Mountain bike or hybrid?

[Devil2575]

I've recently moved house and I'm now only about 6 miles from work so I'm seriously considering cycling in.

The route I would take is a poorly surfaced back road that I have been advised is a bit too rough for a road bike.

So the question is what should I buy, a hybrid or a mountain bike?
The mountain bike I'm looking at is a Carrera Vulcan as the reviews have been good and it is in my price range. It also has lockable front suspension.

However when I was in Halfrauds I spotted a Carrera Subway that looked good, had a taller gears and road tyres so would probably be more suited to my commute. It also has had generally good reviews.

So the question is will the mountain bike be too compromised for a commute that is all tarmac, albeit in a poor state of repair? On the other side of the equation is a hybrid going to be any good if I do decide to go off road.

[anonymous-user]

The mountain bike will do it all fine but be slower on the road than a hybrid. The hybrid might be a hard ride on the rough bits depending on how rough they are

Generally speaking hybrids are OK for roads, bridle paths, tow paths and other well surfaced tracks but only really for light off road cycling.

As ever it depends on what the road is like and what you want to do outside your commute. If both are similarly priced, I'd expect you'll get more hybrid for your money than mountain bike as it doesn't have any suspension.

[rhinochopig]

A proper road bike will be fine and much faster. Don't believe the bks about needing a hybrid or MTB for poorly surfaced roads.

Edited by rhinochopig on Saturday 24th November 09:50

[CaptainSlow]

Get the Vulcan and then some slicker tyres, you'll then have the best of both worlds.

[Gizmoish]

Road bike will probably be fine but it depends how badly surfaced: you will risk punctures.

I'd probably go for a hybrid in that position, the Subway is very popular but if you can get something with 700C wheels you'll find they roll much better.

[Watchman]

I've a rigid framed hybrid 700c/28mm tyres and a hardtail. I tend to use the hybrid more often. Whenever I choose to go anywhere, it's rarely too rough for the hybrid but the limiting factor is that I've put slick tyres on it, so it's pretty hopeless on any sort of mud whatsoever. Great on roads and stones and shale but nothing slippery.

It's FAR faster than the MTB too.

But I reckon I could put some more all-surface tyres on it and it'd be even more general purpose.

[joema]

I hate riding the road bike on poor surfaces. It's about as uncomfortable as a bed of nails.

Hybrid would be my choice so you have fatter tyres.

Although a 29" wheel mtb on slicks could be interesting

[Rob_T]

Cross bike

[American iv]

29er MTB on slicks still has the limiting factor of terrible gearing - I max out mine regularly when not on the rough stuff.

Why not a cyclocross bike? I don't know much about them but aren't they road bikes which can take a bit of rough?

[Devil2575]

Thanks for the replies.

I've gone for a hybrid in the end. The road is very bad, not even classified and it was a keen road bike rider who told me that I'd need an mtb/hybrid.

In reality my off road forays will be limited to bridlepaths etc and although I liked the idea of a mountain bike I don't really need one.

[Gizmoish]

What model did you go for?

I have all three - rigid MTB, hard tail hybrid with road gearing, road bike - and I find the road bike fine on everything up to dry hard packed gravel, the hybrid fine until it gets muddy, when the tyres aren't fat enough and the MTB wins.

[Jimbo.]

...all tarmac, albeit in a poor state of repair?

What do you think the rest of us ride on?! If it's a road and tarmac, then a road bike. If you're really worried, fit some marginally beefier/wider tyres.

[Devil2575]

I went for a Carrera Subway. It fit my budget and looks good.

Trust me, you'd have to see the road, but to be honest I've made my choice now anyway. The hybrid will enable me to cycle along local paths and bridleways, of which there are many, aswell which is another reason I didn't want a pure road bike.

Thanks for the views though

[magpie215]

Devil2575 said:

I went for a Carrera Subway. It fit my budget and looks good.

they are good for the money and over 6 miles the difference in time taken between a road bike and MTB/hybrid would be no more than a couple of mins tops

[Batfink]

I ride farm roads on 23mm tyres without issue. They are gatorskins though. If my whole journey to work was on those roads i'd get a cyclocross bike rather than a hybrid so I can run wider tyres.

The main benefits is riding position/aerodynamics and weight. I've followed people on mtb/hybrids and the effort I need to ride at the same speed looks a lot less.

I guess a hybrid will have a more relaxed riding position and you are also unlikely to upgrade to Lycra.

[Devil2575]

Batfink said:

I guess a hybrid will have a more relaxed riding position and you are also unlikely to upgrade to Lycra.

I will not be upgrading to lycra

[anonymous-user]

have a look at the new Boardman range, they have a great looking hybrid for £500. its more than the carrera but its a far better bike. i think there is a link on road.cc and some pictures.

[Devil2575]

I've already bought the bike thanks.

Your not the first to suggest it and yes it is nice but at almost twice what I paid it is out of my budget.